How we helped Judi sell her home by always being patient



"Team SAYHAY sold my house relatively quickly so we had good results! I kind of had a nervous breakdown because we were moving 1,100 miles away and Judi was just very sweet and patient with me when she really didn’t have to be. Overall, I was just very happy with them!"

-Judi Weakland, Home Seller

How we helped Judy sell her home within 48 hours getting everything straightened out for closing



"Between the time we signed the contract and put it on the multi-list, it was sold within 48 hours. They had the pictures take on Monday, it was put on the website on by Tuesday, we had 2 people in Wednesday morning to look at it, and it was sold by Thursday morning. Judi was wonderful! During the process, I had gotten sick and she jumped right in and got everything straightened out for the closing, which I really appreciated!"

-Judy Berry, Home Seller

How we helped Pat sell her home by attracting the right buyers



"She had sold 3 houses for me and they all sold very quickly. In fact, the last 2 sold to the first buyers that looked at them. Judi just has a way of attracting the right buyer and it’s the combination with pricing it right that makes it sell so quickly! Houses don’t sit on the market with Judi!"

-Pat Wurster, Home Seller

How Can this Tool Help Sellers Make More Money?



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

The Sayhay Team is excited to introduce a new tool we're implementing called Market Snapshot. It will provide our seller clients with a real-time, bi-weekly snapshot of what's going on in the market around their home once it's listed. There are three very unique features that will help our clients have a successful home sale:
  1. Keeps homeowners aware of market conditions: Is the market slowing down? Are homes sitting on the market for a long time? Are sellers taking their homes off the market? What's the inventory like? Market Snapshot will answer all of these questions and more, so our sellers can stay ahead of the market and make the most money.
  2. Tells homeowners when to reduce their price: When is the right time to reduce your asking price and how much lower should you go? Market Snapshot will keep you updated with the number of showings, tell whether that number is lower than usual, and will provide buyer feedback. This will help our sellers determine what price reduction they need to take in order to sell their home quickly and for more money.
  3. Supplies more information to make more money: The information you'll get from Market Snapshot is invaluable, but if you want to put a value on it, we have been able to make our sellers between 8% and 12% more money than the typical seller in the same market.
As you can see, there are many benefits afforded by our latest tool. If have any questions about what it has to offer and how we can help you get more money in less time, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to help make your selling experience a success!

How Can You Make the Most of Your Buying Experience?



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Many home buyers don't understand how important it is to have a face-to-face meeting with an agent before starting the home search. However, there are three reasons why such a meeting can greatly enhance your buying experience:
  1. We need to understand your wants, needs, and expectations. What do you expect from the buying experience and from your agent? With this information in hand, we can put together a road map to success.
  2. We need to establish clear lines of communication. How would you like us to reach you and how would you like to reach us? Do you prefer texting, calling, emailing, or in-person chats? Communication can be the difference between buying a home and losing a home.
  3. We want to make sure all your paperwork is in order. We would like for you to work with one of our preferred lenders. You can turn all your paperwork in to them - if there are any questions or backup documents that need to be handled, we can get it taken care of upfront. It's better to get this taken care of at the beginning of the process because it's often time consuming and can cause delays once you find a home.
We just want to make sure everything in the buying process is done properly. There's no reason buying a home should be a nerve-wracking experience. To learn more about how we can make the buying process a whole lot easier, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would truly love to hear from you!

Why Getting Pre-approved Matters



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

It's not uncommon for people who come to us for help finding homes to get nervous when we ask about pre-approval. Why is it so many people back away when we ask whether they've been pre-approved? Today, we explain why it only serves to benefit buyers to see a lender before starting a home search.

When you get sick and go to the doctor, the first thing you have to do is show your insurance card. That card is proof that you can afford the services the health clinic is going to administer that day - it's a form of pre-approval. The home buying process is no different. When you have a lender run your numbers and give you a pre-approval letter, it is your proof to the seller that you can afford to purchase their property.

When you go to your healthcare professional, they will give you a clipboard with a few pieces of paper on it. They want to know your history, your family's history, and what exactly is bothering you. A buyer counseling interview is the same concept - an agent wants to know what style of home you want, how many bedrooms you need, and what area of town you want to live in, so they can help you as much as they can.

When an agent has all the information they need, they will be better able to show you a home, write up an offer, negotiate the offer, and get you into a home before another agent comes along. Agents ask for your information simply because they are trying to help you achieve your real estate goals!

So, the next time an agent asks for your information when searching for a home, know that it's in your best interest to share it. Getting that pre-approval and filling the agent in on what you want will go a long way toward making your real estate transaction a success!

As always, don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you have about the Pittsburgh area market. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

What Makes the Fall a Great Time to Buy a Home?



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

The idea that the spring season is the only time to sell your home is a common misconception. The truth is that the fall is a fantastic time to put your home on the market  for a number of reasons.
  • Buyers are more serious. During the fall months, people looking to purchase a home are more dedicated and willing to move quickly on a home they like. This is often because they're looking to take advantage of the year-end tax break.
  • They understand the process better. Fall buyers are typically more experienced buyers - they know better than to wait around for the spring season. Negotiations are typically quick and transactions are normally smoother. They aren't going to waste your time if your home doesn't meet their needs or lifestyle. While the number of showings will decrease, the showings you have will be more productive.
  • Buyers have already submitted all the necessary paperwork to the processor and underwriter. The lender has all the paperwork they need to approve the buyer and commit to them. All these buyers need to do is find a home and present a contract, so it's a win-win for buyers and sellers!
We've helped thousands of people achieve the dream of home ownership and countless sellers achieve their financial goals. If you want to jump into this market and work with serious, knowledgeable, and prepared buyers, we would love to help you. Give us a call or shoot us an email with any questions you have about the process - we would love to hear from you!

Wexford Real Estate Market Update



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

The last few months have been pretty slow here in Wexford. We've put homes on the market, but we haven't seen many responsive buyers. However, in the last few weeks, the number of interested buyers has increased. Additionally, the buyers who are interested in our listings are willing to be pre-approved. Many have met with our team for a buyer consultation, which indicates they are serious about purchasing soon.

This is a good sign for this fall. If you are looking to buy, there is no reason to wait. Interest rates are still incredibly low and we're not sure how much longer that will last. Home prices have remained relatively steady, so now is the time to find a home for a great price.

If you are looking to build, we can help with that as well. We know builders and site reps that we can put you in contact with to get the process moving. We would be happy to set up a meeting between you and your builder and help guide you through the process so that it goes as smooth as possible.

For sellers, now is also a great time to enter the market. Prices are slowly increasing and there are a lot of pre-approved buyers out there. Take advantage of the quality buyers out there and get your home sold before the new year.

If you have any questions about the market in your specific area, please give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to help you make informed real estate decisions this fall.

How you can turn negative feedback into a positive when showing your home



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Feedback is a sensitive topic for both sellers and listing agents. Because of this, some agents completely neglect it. We, on the other hand, believe that feedback is not only a good way to build a relationship with our clients, but a helpful way to improve the value of your home. When you are showing your home, feedback from potential buyers can make or break a home sale. The difference is in how you react to negative feedback.

Our listing agents will work with you throughout the home sale - they will not list your home and simply disappear. This is important for the showing process for a few reasons. For one, when you view negative feedback as a wake up call, we can help you fix the cause of the problem. If it is the same issue that is generating feedback, an agent will know how to best fix the problem. Which brings us to another reason an agent is nice to have around during this stage: we bring a different perspective while keeping your interests in mind. By staying open-minded, you can turn whatever is bothering potential buyers into a positive aspect of your home. Putting yourself in the buyer's shoes is an important step to seeing the good in eliminating a problem.

If everything is handled correctly, what the first group of buyers had a problem with may be turned into a positive for the next group. We can help make this happen. If you are selling your home and want to work with a team that knows how to make the most of the hiccups that inevitably occur when showing your property, give us a call. We would love to help you turn a problem into a positive so you can get top value for your home!

Always Consult a Professional for an Accurate Home Value



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

A lot of our clients use Trulia and we generally recommend it. There are plenty of useful functions and it's the most convenient way to begin your home search. However, there are a few limitations we want to make sure you're aware of:

  • People will pull up a bunch of listings on the site before calling us to set up a time to visit the properties. The problem is that the homes are often either under agreement or no longer available
  • Trulia is a lead capture system, meaning they sell space on the website to local Realtors, capture leads, and send those leads to the agents who purchased the spot. The agent then calls the interested buyers and tries to convert the leads into home sales.

These drawbacks can make the home buying process a stressful experience. For one, it stings to find a handful of homes that seem to fit your needs, only to find out they aren't available. Additionally, the agent that Trulia will send you to is often not the listing agent. If you want to know everything possible about a home before you buy it, don't you want to work with the listing agent, the most knowledgeable person about the property?

There are still some nice features Trulia has to offer. For instance, if you aren't quite ready to speak with an agent, you can fill out a form at the bottom of the page with your name, email, and contact information, and the listing agent will call you back. That way, when you're ready, you get the best information available and have a chance to throw a few interview questions at the agent to see if they are the right fit for you.

If you are looking to buy a home, you are going to need to work with a real estate expert- 98% of home buyers hire one. If you want service that is specifically catered to your needs, give us a call or send us an email. We'd love to take care of you.

Wexford Real Estate Market Update




There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Have a minute? I've some information you might find helpful if you're looking to buy a home in the Wexford, PA area.

First, there are 4 things you need to know about current market conditions:
  • Inventories are low.
  • Homes are selling quickly.
  • There are often multiple offers.
  • Usually buyers are paying full price.
In short, if you are looking to buy a house, you are going to have to compete. So, how do you avoid losing a house you want to purchase?

You never know how long a house will be on the market in these conditions, so it's important you take the necessary steps to make sure you're ready when the opportunity to buy presents itself.

The most important thing is to be prepared. Here's how:
  1. Complete a Pre-approval. Have it in hand and give it to your agent.

  2. Know your cost to purchase a home. Before you begin your search, know what your down payment is, what your closing costs are, and whether you'll need financial assistance.

  3. Work with one agent. Sign a buyer-agency contract, this is simply how it's done nowadays.

  4.  Be prepared to move quickly. You don't want the perfect house to slip through your fingers.

  5. Listen to your realtor. Low-ball offers will not work. You agent knows the market and how to best make an offer on the home you want to purchase.
The current market conditions make it crucial that you are prepared.

By following these simple steps you can be sure that you'll beat the competition and not have to settle for anything less than the best!

How to Make Sure Your Home Sale Sticks



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

The Wexford real estate market is perfect right now for sellers. Homes are selling quickly and inventory is still very low for this time of year. Although we are in a perfect seller's market, I have noticed  homes in Wexford being taken off the market, only to see them return days or weeks later. You may be wondering how this is possible? Well, I have the answers for you.

The first reason is that buyers are moving too quickly. They are so quick to make an offer on a home they like at first glance, they don't do the proper research and end up finding that the home either doesn't fit with them, or they paid too much for the home and want to rescind their offer. To protect yourself from this situation, you need to do research on your buyers. There are questions you need to ask such as "Is this the first time they have made an offer on a home?" or "Have they made offers on other homes in Wexford that they have walked away from?" If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you need to be prepared for them to do the same thing again. Its important to look at all the potential buyers for your home and choose the best possible one.

Another reason for this strange occurrence is due to a home's appraisal. When a home seller and a buyer's appraiser can't come to a conclusion on what is an acceptable price for a home in Wexford, the buyer will terminate the agreement. This is why it is essential for you to price your home correctly. When you sell your home, you are not only selling to a buyer, but to their lender's appraiser as well.

If you have any questions about this topic, or the home buying/selling process in general, please call us at (412)303-3600 or send an e-mail to sayhayteam@gmail.com

Avoid These 5 Mistakes When Selling Your Home!



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.


Avoid These 5 Mistakes When Selling Your Home!
 
Here are the top mistakes home owners make when selling their home:
  1. Listing your home higher than recommended. We all, as sellers, want to make more money – when you call your agent in, and they bring in the cold hard facts of what homes are selling for, listen to what they tell you and price accordingly! Remember, the longer your home sits on the market unsold, the less money you will make.

  2. Unwilling to make repairs prior to listing. No seller wants to spend thousands of dollars on home that they are going to sell, but as an agent I may make recommendations that include painting, carpeting, replacing fixtures – basic staging. If you financially cannot do this, adjust your price accordingly. Be prepared for buyers to readjust that price even lower for the repairs that you are unable/unwilling to make.

  3. Unpleasant odors in the home. As an agent, this is the toughest job we have to do. The number one turn-off for buyers is a smelly house!

  4. Unwilling to negotiate with a buyer. Be prepared for buyers to make low offers. Buyers always want to get the best price for a home – so when an offer comes in that is lower than expected, please come back with a counter-offer. Don’t hold firm and don’t tell buyers that this is your “final offer.” Through my years of experience in this business, I’ve found that if buyers love a house, they will come up to your price or meet you in the middle.

  5. Bad pictures of your home. This is another one of the top turn-offs for buyers. With 95% or more buyers beginning their home search online, bad pictures will automatically eliminate your home from their search - no matter how great your house may look! Be sure to review the pictures with your agent before they are posted.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to call or email me. Thanks and have a great day!

How Real Estate Agents Can Follow-Up with Buyers


There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

How Real Estate Agents Can Follow-Up with Buyers
For today's blog, I thought I would focus on providing information to other real estate agents. Even if you are not a real estate agent, I think that you will still find this information to be valuable.

As Realtors, we need to implement some type of follow-up procedure. We spend hours turning buyers into leads, but after we find a house for them we often forget to follow-up and call them back.

At the SAYHAY Team we always ask our clients how they would like us to communicate with them (text, email, etc), and we also tell them that this is a two-way street and they are always able to reach out to us whenever they want.

We also communicate with all of our buyers every Monday and ask them if they have seen any homes or gone to any showings so we can know what homes they are interested in. We also let them know to call us over the weekend if they seen any homes that they are interested in so that we can take action as soon as possible.

Sometimes it can be difficult to get a buyer motivated. What we do is find listings that meet their needs that they outlined in our interview process, and we then contact them with these available homes. Once you get a buyer out to look at homes and explain the process they often become much more motivated to find a home.

We also form a database of all the conversations we have had with our buyers so that we can go back and reference any of their wants or needs if we find a home that would match their criteria.

In my opinion, consistent communication is the best way to build trust and establish expertise.

Hopefully this information has been helpful to you. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me and I could set up a time where we could sit down and talk about your situation.

As always, if you're looking to buy or sell in Wexford or the greater Pittsburgh area, then please contact me via phone or email.

Protect Your Future Home & Your Well-being with a Home Inspection




There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
 
Why Buyers Need to be Present at Home Inspections
Occasionally one of my buyers in Wexford will tell me they don't want to do a home inspection. They think that the property looks pretty good and they just want to waive the inspection. This is not always the case. 

As a realtor, I must explain to my clients that on the surface a home might look good, but a home inspector will reveal issues that could cost you thousands after closing. Some examples would be mold, broken furnaces, or issues with the foundation of the home. 

My advice to my buyers in Wexford would be to hire a professional home inspector so you can address any issues with the home during the contingency period. In addition, you should write a short list of things that you want the inspector to take a close look at, and you should also have the seller's disclosure for review.

It is always recommended that the buyer be present for the inspection. This way you can ask the inspector any questions necessary and you will have more certainty over what is going on with your potential home. If you're not present when the inspection occurs you may feel left out of the picture, and you will probably have a lot of questions about the process. It's just better to be present for a home inspection.

If you need a good home inspector in the Wexford area, contact me and I could recommend one to you. 

Also, if you have any questions about this topic, be sure to contact me via phone or email. I am always willing to sit down and discuss your situation with you. Also, be sure to contact me for all of your Wexford real estate needs.

Thanks for tuning in!

Monitor Your Home's Activity on the Market to Find a Perfect Selling Price


There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for saleClick here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions


When to Reduce the Price of Your Home

First of all, in any market, your first 30 days will determine if you've priced your home correctly or not! Partner with your Realtor to keep track of the number of showings your home receives versus the feedback received from other agents and buyers. This is your best indicator to determine if you priced the home to sell or to sit.

If you have a lot of showings and not offers, or there are few showings, you need to jump on a “price reduction” quickly. Some sellers might believe that this time period is too short, but statistics will prove that the longer your home is on the market without an offer, chances are you are losing money.

Buyers are information-savvy due to the vast amounts of real estate information on the internet. Buyers today are better equipped to make smart decisions when moving forward to purchase a home. As a seller, you should never underestimate the knowledge of a buyer. You can't fool buyers by pricing your home higher than the current market values will allow!

I also suggest that you and your Realtor review the price of your home every 30-40 days to understand what is happening in the marketplace. Just like you balance your checkbook every month, you should be balancing the sale of your home monthly as well. This means reviewing the feedback on the home and adjusting the price accordingly.

Just remember the longer your home sits on the market, chances are you will lose lots of money. I can prove this point to any seller – so call me! You need to hit the market with an attractive price to sell quickly and for top dollar. If you have any questions about this topic, or would like to talk to me about accurate home pricing, then feel free to contact me. I can also help you with all of your real estate needs in the Surrounding Pittsburgh Areas. I would love to hear from you!

My Money-Saving Tips for Buyers


There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Top 10 Tips to Save Money When Buying a Home
There are lots of different strategies to save money when buying a home, but I have come up with 10 ways that work well - at least in my own experience.
  1. Figure out where you want to live: Narrow down a few different regions of interest, and pick a place that you are comfortable with. Know the different schools, stores, and community offerings in those areas. Next, tell your agent about these specific locales.
    • By doing this, your agent will know the particulars that you're looking for, and time and/or money will not be wasted looking for homes that you do not want to purchase. This will save you and the agent time, and also money.
  2. Interview your prospective agent: You want to work with someone who is competent. You have to remember that buying a home is probably the largest & most important financial decision that you will ever make.
    • You will need to evaluate the experience and credibility of the agent. You definitely want an agent who has negotiated buyer contracts before, so be sure to ask about this. 
    • Ensure the agent is staffed well: Ask if they actually use a team of professionals, or if they work separately. A single agent will likely not be able to handle all of the tasks that come along with buying a home. However, if a team approach is being utilized, then ask to meet the real estate team because they will be helping to buy your home, and being able to communicate well with them will save you time and money.
  3. Get pre-approved before looking for a home: There are many different fees you have to pay when buying a home. You have to pay for inspections, closing costs, appraisals, etc. You should know what you can and cannot afford before writing an offer to a seller. If your agent knows these things ahead of time, this should save lots of time, as well as money.
These are just three of the top ten tips for buyers looking to save money, and if you want to know all of them, just click on the link below.

Otherwise, if you have any questions or concerns about real estate, please don't hesitate to give me a call at (412) 303-3600 or shoot me an email at sayhayteam@gmail.com

Why You Should Let the Other Agent Show Your Property



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

I've been asked recently whether or not it is a good idea to be present during a home showing of your own property. The answer to this question is a definitive 'NO', but allow me to tell you why this is so.

Let Your Agent Show Your Home to Buyers
  • Allow your agent to show the home on your behalf.  
    • You want buyers to feel as if it is already their property. If you answer the front door and invite them inside, they will undoubtedly feel very uncomfortable. This initial uneasiness could spoil a sale from the beginning. 
  • Real estate agents are equipped to sell your property.  
    • A buyer's agent is aware of the seller's interests and is more readily prepared to display those features of the house that serve as major selling points.  
    • Home owners sometimes believe that they can sell their home better than a real estate agent, but this is not true. Agents are professionally trained salespeople. 
    •  Also, home buyers trust their agents, not you.
  • You need a professional liaison between yourself and the buyer's agent. 
    • Real estate agents know how to communicate with one another in an efficient, effective manner.
If you have questions about this topic or are trying to buy or sell in the Northern Pittsburgh area, please contact me. I would be extremely glad to help you. You can call me at (412) 303-3600 or email me at sayhayteam@gmail.com

Four Tips on Preparing Your Home for a Quick, Efficient Sale on the Market



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to search Homes for Sale, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Four Tips on Preparing Your Home for a Quick, Efficient Sale on the Market

Hello again and thanks for tuning in to my video blog. I'm here to discuss how to get your home ready for the spring market because there are a variety of ways to do this, yet only a few that I think are truly necessary. In total I have 10 steps, but I will just list the top 4 here.

  1. Declutter: Thin out your home and remove any unnecessary appliances such as televisions, microwaves, lamps, furniture etc. The more you remove, the larger the interior will appear to a buyer. Make your home appear as large as possible.

  2. Painting and Flooring: Make sure that nothing in your home is personalized, because you don't want to project your lifestyle or preferences onto a buyer viewing your home. The more neutral the walls and floors appear, the better off you will be.

  3. Staging: This step will logically follow the first two, but it may require the help of a professional. I have a staging agent on my staff, and I do think that their experience is always helpful in making the home look as beautiful, warm, and inviting as possible. My stager will come in and suggest necessary changes, which they are often very helpful.

  4. Curb Appeal: Don't forget about the outside of your property. Curb appeal is valuable because it is the first thing every prospective buyer will notice. Prepping the outside can include repainting, landscaping, or even installing new windows. If the exterior of your property is appealing to them, only then will they decide to venture inside and take a closer look. This aspect is the most important part for luring in buyers, so pay very close attention to the outside of your property.

These are only four of the ten ways I recommend to my clients on how to prepare for the sale of their home. If you'd like to learn the rest of them, click here to download the full report!

Thanks for watching!

With the Changing of the Seasons Now is the Time to Buy or Sell Real Estate



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Is now the right time for you to sell your home?

Today I wanted to touch upon a topic that both buyers and sellers will find interesting and that is whether or not now is the right time to sell. My answer to that is yes to both buyers and sellers! If you’re a seller, the inventory during the winter months is typically low. However, it seems like the inventory this year is extremely low; but what does this mean for sellers?

If you decide to sell your home in the winter months versus waiting until April or May, you sell your home faster and for more money. Sellers who are selling their homes now are receiving 2-2.25% more than they would if they wait. It isn’t that simple sellers; you still have to price your home within the range that your agent gives to you. Buyers are extremely smart and exactly know what homes are selling for.


If you’re a buyer, you can still capitalize on low interest rates; interest rates are the lowest they’ve been in five years! However, if interest rates begin to climb by 0.5% or 1%, the price of the home you want to buy will drop by $15,000 to $20,000. Also, the prices of homes are still relatively low but be aware that they are slowly creeping up.


The bottom line is if you want to buy a home, get preapproved and begin working with an agent now. In 2014, I believe that interest rates will climb to 5-5.5% by the fourth quarter. I also believe that by the end of the third quarter, we will enter a stronger seller’s market.


If you have any questions, give me a call at (412) 303-2600. Thanks and have a great day!

Why it is Important That You Accurately Price Your Home!



There are many great Pittsburgh area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (412) 303-3600 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today I wanted to talk to you about the importance of accurately pricing your home in 2014. The internet has made such a huge impact on how sellers price their home because buyers know exactly what the home is worth. If you price your home at or right below market value, buyers will see your home as competitively priced and create a bidding war on your house. This will make you more money! I saw this happen in 2013 and expect it to carry over into 2014.

When sellers come in for a market analysis, I tell them to sell their home within the first 30-60 days. After that, the house becomes “stale” and buyers, along with other agents, begin to think there is something wrong with the home or it is overpriced. I will put together a detailed proposal of both the high and low end price for your home; if you meet in the middle, you will generally make more money.

If you’re a seller and looking to sell your home in 2014 or at least get a price on it, don’t hesitate to give me a call at (412) 303-3600.

What Did You See in the 2013 Market?



Today I wanted to give you a recap of what we saw in 2013 and also what I am predicting for 2014. Throughout 2013, I thought the market remained neutral. The year began as a buyer’s market; the beginning of the year showed homes selling quickly and as the summer went by and fall came around, the sellers began to get better prices for their homes. I think we are transitioning into a seller’s market now and that should continue into 2014.

Interest rates for 15 and 30 year fixed loans rose one percent and are going to slowly continue climbing. As more sellers put their homes on the market in the spring, rates will mostly likely rise 0.5% and should be up 1% by the end of 2014.

Thank you for watching my video blog! If you’re a buyer, stop by my website at www.pittsburghbesthomes.com and search listings and if you’re a seller and want a free analysis of your home value, visit www.pittsburghnorthhomevalues.com. Also, don’t hesitate to give me a call at (412) 303-3600. Thanks and have a great day!

Buyers click here to search all area homes for sale.

Sellers click here to find out what your home is worth.